Preschool Storytime: Christmas With The Animals

This Preschool Storytime was presented at Bellevue Public Library on December 20 & 21, 2017.

Each Preschool Storytime includes activities that support all or most of the five early literacy practices identified as essential in helping your child develop the skills they need before they can learn to read. The five practices – singing, talking, reading, playing and writing – were developed for Every Child Ready to Read®, an initiative of the Association for Library Services for Children (ALSC) and the Public Library Association (PLA).

Reading:

When Cows Come Home for Christmas by Dori Chaconas, illustrated by Lynne Chapman

Where is Christmas, Jesse Bear? by Nancy White Carlstrom, illustrated by Bruce Degen

Singing:

Hello, Friends!
(tune: "Goodnight Ladies")

Hello friends.
Hello friends.
Hello friends.
We're glad you came today!


Everybody Say Hello!
(tune: "London Bridge")

Everybody say hello, say hello, say hello,
Everybody say hello, hello Wesley!

(Wesley is my turtle puppet who pops out of my apron pocket whenever we sing this song.  Then he sits quietly on his rock and listens to the stories and sings along with us.  At the end of storytime he says goodbye to the children, gives them high fives, eats pretend food from their hands, blows kisses, and plays hide and seek!)

Jingle Bells

Jingle bells, jingle bells,
Jingle all the way!
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh! (repeat)

Dashing through the snow 
in a one-horse open sleight,
O'er the fields we go,
laughing bobtail ring,
making spirits bright.
What fun it is to ride and sing 

a sleighing song tonight!

Goodbye, Friends!
(tune: "Goodnight Ladies")

Goodbye friends.
Goodbye friends.
Goodbye friends.
We're glad you came today!

Every Child Ready to Read^® @ your library^®, PLA and ALSC logos are registered trademarks of the American Library Association and are used with permission.

Baby & Me Storytime: 12/18/17

This Baby & Me Storytime was presented at Bellevue Public Library on December 18, 19, & 21, 2017.

Book:
Hugs & Kisses by Roberta Grobel Intrater

Songs:

Hello, Friends!

(tune: "Goodnight Ladies")

Hello friends.

Hello friends.

Hello friends.

We're glad you came today!

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are. 

Come Along and Sing With Me
(tune: "Mary Had a Little Lamb")

Come along and sing with me,
Sing with me, sing with me.
Come along and sing with me
On a (windy, sunny, rainy, etc.) Tuesday (Thursday)

Come along and tap with me...
Come along and stretch with me...
Come along and sway with me...

Itsy-Bitsy Spider

The itsy bitsy spider went up the waterspout.
Down came the rain and washed the spider out.
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain,
And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again.

Goodbye, Friends!
(tune: "Goodnight Ladies")

Goodbye friends.
Goodbye friends.
Goodbye friends.
We're glad you came today!

Rhymes:

When Cows Get Up in the Morning
(a gentle bouncing rhyme)

When cows get up in the morning,
They always say "good day!"

When cows get up in the morning,
They always say "good day!"

"Moo, moo, moo!", 
That's how they say "good day!"
"Moo, moo, moo!", 
That's how they say "good day!"

Help your child think of other animals and their respective sounds as you continue this rhyme!

One Little Baby Rocking in a Tree

One little baby rocking in a tree. (adult gently rocks child)
Two little babies splashing in the sea. (adult/child make "splashing" motion)
Three little babies crawling on the floor. (move hands in "walking" motion in front of child)
Four little babies knocking at the door. (make a fist and "knock" in the air)
Five little babies playing hide and seek. (cover eyes with hands)
Don't look!  Don't look!
Until I say...PEEK! (uncover eyes)


Our activity this week was Musical Instruments!

Each Baby & Me Storytime includes activities that support one or more of the five early literacy practices identified as essential in helping your child develop the skills they need before they can learn to read. The five practices – singing, talking, reading, playing and writing –were developed for Every Child Ready to Read®, an initiative of the Association for Library Services for Children (ALSC) and the Public Library Association (PLA).

Baby & Me Storytime: 12/11/17

This Baby & Me Storytime was presented at Bellevue Public Library on December 11, 12, & 14, 2017.

Book:
Pat-a-Cake illustrated by Annie Kubler

Songs:

Hello, Friends!

(tune: "Goodnight Ladies")

Hello friends.

Hello friends.

Hello friends.

We're glad you came today!

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are. 

The Shape-Up Song
(tune: "The Farmer in the Dell")

We're jumping up and down.
We're jumping up and down.
We're getting lots of exercise.
We're jumping up and down.

Ideas for additional verses:
Let's bend and touch our toes...
Let's reach and touch the sky...
Let's kick our legs up high...
We're stomping our feet...
We're waving hello...


You Are My Sunshine

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine,
You make me happy when skies are gray.
You'll never know, dear, how much I love you.
Please don't take my sunshine away!

Goodbye, Friends!
(tune: "Goodnight Ladies")

Goodbye friends.
Goodbye friends.
Goodbye friends.
We're glad you came today!

Rhymes:

Toast in the Toaster

I’m toast in the toaster, (gently bounce)

I’m getting very hot.

Tick, tock, tick, tock, (sway side to side)

Up I pop! (raise baby into the air)

Slowly, Slowly, Very Slowly

Slowly, slowly, very slowly creeps the garden snail.

(walk fingers over baby)

Slowly, slowly, very slowly up the wooden rail.

Quickly, quickly, very quickly runs the little mouse!

(run fingers over baby)    

Quickly, quickly, very quickly up into his house!

Our activity this week was Board Books!

Each Baby & Me Storytime includes activities that support one or more of the five early literacy practices identified as essential in helping your child develop the skills they need before they can learn to read. The five practices – singing, talking, reading, playing and writing –were developed for Every Child Ready to Read®, an initiative of the Association for Library Services for Children (ALSC) and the Public Library Association (PLA).

Preschool Storytime: Waiting for SNOW!!

This Preschool Storytime was presented at Bellevue Public Library on December 13 & 14, 2017 .

Each Preschool Storytime includes activities that support all or most of the five early literacy practices identified as essential in helping your child develop the skills they need before they can learn to read. The five practices – singing, talking, reading, playing and writing – were developed for Every Child Ready to Read®, an initiative of the Association for Library Services for Children (ALSC) and the Public Library Association (PLA).

Reading:

If It's Snowy and You Know It by Kim Norman, illustrated by Liza Woodruff

Snowballs by Lois Ehlert

Singing:

Hello, Friends!
(tune: "Goodnight Ladies")

Hello friends.
Hello friends.
Hello friends.
We're glad you came today!


Everybody Say Hello!
(tune: "London Bridge")

Everybody say hello, say hello, say hello,
Everybody say hello, hello Wesley!

(Wesley is my turtle puppet who pops out of my apron pocket whenever we sing this song.  Then he sits quietly on his rock and listens to the stories and sings along with us.  At the end of storytime he says goodbye to the children, gives them high fives, eats pretend food from their hands, blows kisses, and plays hide and seek!)

Goodbye, Friends!
(tune: "Goodnight Ladies")

Goodbye friends.
Goodbye friends.
Goodbye friends.
We're glad you came today!

Every Child Ready to Read^® @ your library^®, PLA and ALSC logos are registered trademarks of the American Library Association and are used with permission.

Toddler Storytime: Christmas With the Animals

This Toddler Storytime was presented at Bellevue Public Library on December 20, 2017.

Each Toddler Storytime includes activities that support all or most of the five early literacy practices identified as essential in helping your child develop the skills they need before they can learn to read. The five practices – singing, talking, reading, playing and writing – were developed for Every Child Ready to Read®, an initiative of the Association for Library Services for Children (ALSC) and the Public Library Association (PLA).

Reading:

Jingle-Jingle by Nicola Smee

Bear's Christmas Star by Mireille D'Allance

Singing:

Hello, Friends!
(tune: "Goodnight Ladies")

Hello friends.
Hello friends.
Hello friends.
We're glad you came today!


Everybody Say Hello!
(tune: "London Bridge")

Everybody say hello, say hello, say hello,
Everybody say hello, hello Wesley!

(Wesley is my turtle puppet who pops out of my apron pocket whenever we sing this song.  Then he sits quietly on his rock and listens to the stories and sings along with us.  At the end of storytime he says goodbye to the children, gives them high fives, eats pretend food from their hands, blows kisses, and plays hide and seek!)

Jingle Bells

Jingle bells, jingle bells,
Jingle all the way!
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh! (repeat)

Dashing through the snow 
in a one-horse open sleight,
O'er the fields we go,
laughing bobtail ring,
making spirits bright.
What fun it is to ride and sing 
a sleighing song tonight!

Goodbye, Friends!
(tune: "Goodnight Ladies")

Goodbye friends.
Goodbye friends.
Goodbye friends.
We're glad you came today!

What's in the Green Box?
(tune: "Sally Wore a Red Dress")

What's in the green box,
The green box, the green box?
What's in the green box 
For us today?

Today we played with stamps and ink pads!  Children used this counting graph to stamp designs representing the numbers 1 through 5.  We also used the stamps to create designs on our coloring tables, which are covered with butcher paper and just waiting for little hands to draw, stamp and create!

Every Child Ready to Read^® @ your library^®, PLA and ALSC logos are registered trademarks of the American Library Association and are used with permission.

Toddler Storytime: Welcome, Winter!

This Toddler Storytime was presented at Bellevue Public Library on December 13, 2017.

Each Toddler Storytime includes activities that support all or most of the five early literacy practices identified as essential in helping your child develop the skills they need before they can learn to read. The five practices – singing, talking, reading, playing and writing – were developed for Every Child Ready to Read®, an initiative of the Association for Library Services for Children (ALSC) and the Public Library Association (PLA).

Reading:

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

Wonderful Winter by Jennifer Marino Walters, illustrated by John A. Nez

Singing:

Hello, Friends!
(tune: "Goodnight Ladies")

Hello friends.
Hello friends.
Hello friends.
We're glad you came today!


Everybody Say Hello!
(tune: "London Bridge")

Everybody say hello, say hello, say hello,
Everybody say hello, hello Wesley!

(Wesley is my turtle puppet who pops out of my apron pocket whenever we sing this song.  Then he sits quietly on his rock and listens to the stories and sings along with us.  At the end of storytime he says goodbye to the children, gives them high fives, eats pretend food from their hands, blows kisses, and plays hide and seek!)

Jingle Bells

Jingle bells, jingle bells,
Jingle all the way!
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh! (repeat)

Dashing through the snow 
in a one-horse open sleight,
O'er the fields we go,
laughing bobtail ring,
making spirits bright.
What fun it is to ride and sing 
a sleighing song tonight!

Goodbye, Friends!
(tune: "Goodnight Ladies")

Goodbye friends.
Goodbye friends.
Goodbye friends.
We're glad you came today!



Rhyme:

Five Little Snowmen

Five little snowmen standing by the door.
This one melted and then there were four.

Four little snowmen underneath a tree.
This one melted and then there were three.

Three little snowmen with hats and mittens, too.
This one melted and then there were two.

Two little snowmen outside in the sun.
This one melted and then there was one.

One little snowman trying hard to run.
He melted too, and then there were none.

What's in the Green Box?
(tune: "Sally Wore a Red Dress")

What's in the green box,
The green box, the green box?
What's in the green box 
For us today?

Children and adults were invited to enjoy stringing wooden beads and playing with lacing cards.  These can be fun ways to help your child strengthen finger and hand muscles in preparation for beginning to write.

Every Child Ready to Read^® @ your library^®, PLA and ALSC logos are registered trademarks of the American Library Association and are used with permission.

Papa Bear & Me Storytime: December 2017

This Papa Bear & Me Storytime was presented at Bellevue Public Library on December 19, 2017.

Books:
Daddies Are Awesome by Meredith Costain, illustrated by Polona Lovsin

Let's Go, Froggy! by Jonathan London, illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz

Our attendees tonight were all under 2 years of age, so I adapted my storytime slightly.  Along with reading the two shortest books on my reading list, we sang a couple familiar songs and I shared two of my favorite rhymes from my Baby & Me Storytimes!

Songs:
Jingle Bells

If You're Happy and You Know It

Rhymes:

A Smooth Road

A smooth road, a smooth road, a smooth road, a smooth road!
(gently sway from side to side with Baby)
A bumpy road, a bumpy road, a bumpy road, a bumpy road!
(change action to a gentle up-and-down motion)
A rough road, a rough road, a rough road, a rough road,
(bouncing becomes more intense - but still gentle enough for Baby)
A rough road, a rough road,
A HOLE!
(lean forward with Baby to simulate falling into a hole)

Cuckoo Clock

Tick, tock, tick, tock,

I'm a li...ttle cu-ckoo clock

Tick, tock, tick, tock,

Now I'm stri-king one o-clock.

Cu-ckoo!

(This rhyme can be said quite slowly, which makes for a gentle rocking motion.  When we slow down our speech we lengthen some of the words, which helps your child hear syllables as well as the cadence of our language.  When speaking, put the emphasis on the underlined words or parts of words.  Cradle baby in your arms or hold him up with your hands under his underarms.    Gently rock child from side to side in rhythm with your words.  When you say "CUCKOO", gently lift your child into the air.  For older children: have child stand and gently rock from side to side in rhythm with the chant.   Invite your child to raise hands above his/her head and/or jump one time for each "CUCKOO" they hear.  Continue this chant, changing the verse to "two o'clock...CUCKOO!  CUCKOO!, three o'clock...CUCKOO!  CUCKOO!  CUCKOO!, etc.)

Each Papa Bear & Me Storytime includes activities that support one or more of the five early literacy practices identified as essential in helping your child develop the skills they need before they can learn to read. The five practices – singing, talking, reading, playing and writing –were developed for Every Child Ready to Read®, an initiative of the Association for Library Services for Children (ALSC) and the Public Library Association (PLA).

Baby & Me Storytime: 12/4/17

This Baby & Me Storytime was presented at Bellevue Public Library on December 4,5, & 7, 2017.

Book:

Peek-a-Boo! by Roberta Grobel Intrater

Songs:

Hello, Friends!

(tune: "Goodnight Ladies")

Hello friends.

Hello friends.

Hello friends.

We're glad you came today!

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are. 

These Little Fingers

(tune:"The Wheels on the Bus")

These little fingers go wiggle, wiggle, wiggle,

wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle,

These little fingers go wiggle, wiggle, wiggle,

And now they're on my...head!

There are endless possibilities when singing this song with your wee one!  

For example:

Your fingers can go pat, tickle, rub, clap, wave, tap...

on your baby's feet, back, head, tummy, knees, cheeks...

My Little Baby

(tune "Someone's in the Kitchen with Dinah")

My little baby is (child's name).

Cutest little baby I kno-o-o-ow!

My little baby is (child's name).

And I love you so!

Goodbye, Friends!
(tune: "Goodnight Ladies")

Goodbye friends.
Goodbye friends.
Goodbye friends.
We're glad you came today!

Rhymes:

Pizza, Pizza, Pumpernickel

Pizza, pizza, pumpernickel,
My little baby shall have a tickle.
One on the nose,
One on the toes,
And one of the tummy where the pizza goes!

I Saw a Snake Go By One Day

(© Lois Simmie)  

I saw a snake go by one day (make snake motion with arm)
Riding in his Chevrolet (hands on steering wheel)
He was long (extend arms to show "long")
And he was thin (arms show "thin")
And he didn't have a chin. (point to chin)

He had no chin,
But what the heck (shrug)
He had lots and lots and lots of neck! (touch or tickle baby's neck)

Our activity this week was Bean Bags!

Each Baby & Me Storytime includes activities that support one or more of the five early literacy practices identified as essential in helping your child develop the skills they need before they can learn to read. The five practices – singing, talking, reading, playing and writing –were developed for Every Child Ready to Read®, an initiative of the Association for Library Services for Children (ALSC) and the Public Library Association (PLA).